Had Molly been a Hollywood film, it would
feel like a dozen other postapocalyptic sci-fi films. Add to that a teenage
protagonist with special supernatural abilities that may save the world, and
little about Molly doesn’t feel derivative.
The most original and impressive things about the film have to do with the
production rather than the final product. Not only is the scope of the film
more impressive due to the obvious budget limitations, but it also has the
unique distinction of being from the Netherlands.

Horror movies
are an indicator of their times, and there seems to be no better example in the
past decade than The Purge franchise.
Following the unexpected attacks of 9/11, The
Purge captured those anxieties in a home invasion thriller. And as the
sequels continued the narrative, they only became more political, with the last
installment utilizing a tagline that was blatantly borrowed from Donald Trump’s
political campaign slogan. The First
Purge is a prequel, but it is every bit as politically and socially
relevant, even if it lacks the focus of previous installments.